98 year old Ozro K. Franklin of the Blue Springs Community died Wednesday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He was a member of Pine Crest Baptist Church in Johnson City, Tn. and a regular attendee of the First Baptist Church in Smithville, and a member of the American Legion. He was a heavily decorated 22 year veteran of the U.S. Army, 17 of which served overseas. He participated at Normandy on the second day of combat, and went all the way through Europe to the Rhine River while helping liberate one prison camp, surrounded in the Battle of the Bulge, and also served two tours of duty in the Korean War, and also spent time in Panama and the Phillipines. He was also a retired ETSU police officer. The funeral will be Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Tim Singleton will officiate with burial in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00p.m. and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until the service time at 1:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, General and Julia Berry Franklin; wife, Lydia Mae Franklin; two sisters, Earlene Carver and Ivory Yates, and three brothers, Ronald, Conley, and Donald Franklin. He is survived by one son, Benjamin G. Franklin and wife Linda; one granddaughter, Misty and husband Daniel Agee, and special caregiver, Pat Arnold, all of Smithville. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

83 year old Helen Talma Smith Curtis died Sunday at Middle Tennessee Medical Center.
A member of Sycamore Baptist Church, she was a homemaker. A resident of Woodbury, she was born in Tony, AL
Survivors: Children: Doris Curtis of Woodbury, Carolyn (Wayne) Thomas of Smithville, Eddie (Yvonne) Curtis, Teddy Curtis, Kenneth Curtis, Talma Mosley all of Woodbury.
3 Siblings: Ruth Zachos of Lima, Ohio, William Dee (Betty) Smith of Murfreesboro & Dottie (Jim) Jones of Woodbury.
3 Sisters-in-law: Elsie, Vern and Josie Smith.
10 Grandchildren, 6 Great Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joel and Mable Ross Smith; her husband, Douglas Curtis; brothers: Daniel, Alvin, Harris, Wesley, Milton, and Frank Smith; sisters: Edith Caylor, Dorcas Filyaw and Rachel Smith & great grandson, William Hicks.
Funeral service will be in the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2012 with Bro. Richard Williams officiating.
Burial will be in Sycamore Cemetery.
Visitation will be after 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 29.

53 year old Clayton R. McDonald of White Pine died Friday at his home. He was a long time chemical plant technician at SI Group. The family has chosen to have a direct cremation at his request and a celebration of Clay’s life will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday, March 3 at Angelo’s at the Point Dandridge, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his father, John McDonald. Survivors include his mother, Connie McDonald of Maggie Valley, North Carolina; two sons, Caleb and wife Chala Cripps McDonald of Smithville, and Aaron McDonald of Austin, Texas; sister, Sandy McDonald of Morristown.; brother, Steve and wife June McDonald of Jefferson City; and special friend Sheila Noe of Morristown. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142 Memphis, TN. 38148. Arrangements by Mayes Family Services of Morristown, Downtown Chapel.

56 year old Reverend Michael Farr, pastor of the Smithville Church of God, died Sunday evening at his residence in Tullahoma. The funeral will be Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Smithville Church of God. Dr. Don Walker, Reverend Tim Cushman, and Reverend Terry Hart will officiate and burial will be at the Lebanon Cemetery in Cleveland, Tennessee at 1:00 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday. Visitation will be Tuesday from noon until 6:00 p.m. at the Smithville Church of God. Farr was preceded in death by his father, William Henry Farr. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Farr of Tullahoma. Daughters and sons-in-law, Bethany and Jerry Strait, Jr. and Paula and Paul Bentley, Jr. Granddaughters, Olivia and Annaly Bentley; a grandson, Jonah Strait; mother, Louise Farr; brothers, Bill and wife Jonnie Farr, Oliver and wife Faye Farr all of Lakeland, Georgia; Glenn and wife Chris Farr; James and wife Marie Farr; and Maynard and wife Barbara Farr all of Crossville. Sisters, Ruby and husband Curtis Cross, Lela and husband Raymond Gist, Linda and husband Terry Hawn, and Ann and husband Redgie Thompson. The family asks that donations be made in lieu of flowers to the CJD Foundation at P.O. Box 5312, Akron, Ohio, 44334, or to the Smithville Church of God at P.O. Box 305, Smithville, TN. 37166, or to the Avalon Hospice at 1802 N. Jackson Street Suite 900, Tullahoma, TN. 37388. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

47 year old David Ray Redmon of Smithville died Sunday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He was former owner of Redmon’s Nursery and DeKalb Cemetery. He was a member of the Indian Creek Baptist Church. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Mike Carpenter will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. He is survived by two daughters, Hailey Redmon of Smithville and Ashley and husband Gary Murry of Soddy Daisy. One son, Bradley Redmon; Four grandchildren, Michael and Chrissy White, Emmalee Redmon, and Elijah Gingerich; Mother, Evalena Turner Redmon; Father, David Redmon; Sister, Wetoina “Sissy” Redmon; Companion, Deborah France; and mother of his children, Denise Redmon all of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests that donations please be made to Love-Cantrell Funeral Home to help with burial expenses, in lieu of flowers.

55 year old Donald Franklin Evans of Alexandria died Saturday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He was a member of the Country Side Baptist Church. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Donald Owens, Dwayne Cornelius, and Jackie Gaddes will officiate and burial will be in Wilson County Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday from noon until 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. Evans was preceded in death by his father, John Evans and a son, Thomas Michael Evans. He is survived by his wife, Tammy Evans of Alexandria. Four children, John Michael and wife Mandy Evans and Amy and husband Drake Ricard all of Franklin, Kentucky, David Glen and wife Crissy Evans of Dowelltown, and Ashley and husband Matt Buchanan of Smithville. Nine grandchildren. Mother, Bessie Evans of Murfreesboro. A brother, Nathan Dean and wife Kathy Evans of California. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family asks that donations be made to DeKalb Funeral Chapel to help with funeral expenses, in lieu of flowers.

55 year old Wanda Alice Vanatta of Smithville died Friday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a homemaker and a member of the Keltonburg United Methodist Church. The family has chosen direct cremation. There will be no visitation. She was preceded in death by her parents, W.A. and Frances Vanatta and a brother, Darrell Vanatta. Survivors include her husband, Lloyd Rigsby of Smithville. Three daughters, Gayle and husband Phillip Thomas of Smithville, Trina Bullard of McMinnville, and Heather Ingram of Cookeville. Two sons, Christopher Rigsby and Aubrey Rigsby of Smithville. Six grandchildren. One sister, Shelia Lucy of Indiana and step-mother, Jo Carter of Franklin. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

85 year old Dr. J.K. Twilla of Smithville died Friday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He was a long time doctor in the DeKalb County area and a U.S. Navy Veteran. He was also a member of the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Larry Green will officiate and burial will be in Town Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 1:00 p.m. Dr. Twilla was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Leonard and Rosa Jon Twilla. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jo Twilla of Smithville. Two sons, Neil Alan Twilla and John Kevin Twilla of Murfreesboro. Two grandchildren, Kevin and wife Desirae Twilla of Harrogate and Keli and husband Jared Davis of Smithville. Sister, Rose Mary and husband John Jarvis of Sparta. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family has requested NO FOOD at the funeral home and NO FLOWERS. Donations may be made to the Lighthouse Christian Camp and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

94 year old Lena Vanderpool of Smithville died last Thursday at St. Thomas Hospital. The funeral service will be Saturday, March 3rd at 1:00 p.m. at the Snow Hill United Methodist Church with Royce Martin officiating. Burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday, March 2nd from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Snow Hill United Methodist Church and Saturday, March 3rd from 11:00 a.m. until time of service. Mrs. Vanderpool was born in DeKalb County, daughter of the late Talmedge and Rebecca Myrtle Moore Davis. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Vernie Vanderpool, son-in-law, Calvin Christman, sisters, Wilma Cubbins, Ovie Driver, Edith Seals and Altie Vandergriff. She is survived by daughters, Peggy Judkins and husband, Doug of Hendersonville, North Carolina and Nina Christman of Peyton, Colorado; sisters, Margie Close of Lebanon and Marie Robinson of Smithville, four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Snow Hill United Methodist Church. Family Heritage Funeral Home in Gallatin in charge of arrangements.

74 year old Hilda Rhea Billings of the Peeled Chestnut Community of Smithville died Tuesday at St. Thomas Hospital. She was a homemaker and a member of the Johnson’s Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. The funeral will be Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Mark Judkins will officiate and burial will be in the Peeled Chestnut Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Zollie and Rebbie Luna Young; three brothers, Thurman, Reece, and Virtesse Young; three sisters, Julie Hutchings, Arlene Rickman, and Ruth Billings. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Claude Billings of the Peeled Chestnut Community. Three sons, Steve and wife Tina Billings of Von Ore, Tennessee; John and wife Wendy Billings, and Jason and wife Sally Billings all of Michigan. One daughter, Hilda Claudette and husband Glen Peterson of Maryland. Eight grandchildren, Bruce and Stormie Billings of Von Ore, Emily, Elissa and John Wyatt Billings of Michigan, and Samantha, Jonathan, and Patricia Peterson all of Maryland. One sister, Helen Faul of Michigan. Special friend and Sister-in-law, Robbie Young of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.